I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

July 20, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
Joshua 6:15-27
Acts 22:30-23:11
Mark 2:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 19:3-4
There is no speech, nor are there words;
[ the voice of the heavens and firmament] is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

Joshua 6:21
Then [ the people of Israel] devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city [ of Jericho], both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.

Acts 22:30
Since [ the Roman tribune] wanted to find out what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before the council.

Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw [ the faith of those who let the paralytic down through the roof], he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

III. Meditation: Neither speech nor words

In testimony to your glory the silent voice of the
heavens and firmament goes out through all the earth.

Would such a voice demand the sword edge against an entire city-
men and women; young and old; oxen, sheep, and donkeys?

Paul was victim of a less than perfect legal system, but he did
receive a trial-more than can be said for the inhabitants of Jericho.

Would not the one who so readily forgave the sins of the
paralytic have forgiven at least the babies and animals?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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